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Android 12 Will Allow 'Play As You Download' for Mobile Games
Less time waiting, more time playing
By Allison Murray Allison Murray Tech News Reporter Southern Illinois University Allison reports on all things tech. She's a news junky that keeps her eye on the latest trends. Allison is a writer working out of Chicago, IL, with her only coworker: her cat Norbert. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on July 12, 2021 03:07PM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Software & Apps Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Android 12 will get an update that allows you to play a game as you’re downloading it. Google announced the new feature—called Play as You Download—coming to Android 12 this fall during Monday’s Google For Games Developers Summit, according to a blog post published on the Android Developers blog. Google "Play as you download, built into the core of Android 12, will allow users to get into gameplay in seconds while game assets are downloaded in the background," Greg Hartrell, product management director of Google Play and Android, said in the blog post. “We are seeing games being ready to open at least two times faster and we are very excited about the improved user experience.” The new feature will make the core assets of larger mobile games download faster, so you can start playing the main parts of a game while it continues to download files in the background. Aside from the ability to access more games faster, Google also announced a new game dashboard. Google said the dashboard “provides an overlay experience with quick access to key utilities during gameplay—like screen capture, recording, and more.” We are seeing games being ready to open at least 2 times faster. Google also added that it is continuing to innovate its Play Assist Delivery, so players spend less time waiting for their games to download while keeping the quality of the game. Google said it would begin using Texture Compression Format Targeting to automatically figure out what compression formats to use to further reduce your game’s size. These new gaming features are currently in beta for developers, but Android smartphone owners can expect to see them once Android 12 debuts this fall. Other exciting Android 12 features include new themes and color schemes, better power efficiency, a new Privacy Dashboard, a unified API, and more. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Chromecast Jumps to Android 12, Adds Security and 4K Support The 10 Best Android 12 Features How to Update to Android 12 on Samsung How to Access the Android 12 Privacy Dashboard Mobile Game Programming and Development How-to How to Use Android 12 in One-Handed Mode Android 12: Release Date, Rumors, Features, and Supported Devices How to Access the Android 12 Security Hub How to Take a Scrolling Screenshot in Android 12 How to Remove Apps from the Quick Settings Media Control Panel in Android 12 How to Snooze Notifications in Android 12 10 Best Offline RPGs to Play in 2022 How to Use Android 12's Adaptive Notifications Ranking Google Pixel 6 Review: Shots Fired How to Take a Screenshot on Android 12 iPhone vs Android: Which Is Better For You? Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies